Chapter 12

After exiting the palace gates, Yu Ping saw Qin Zening standing beside a red horse.

The young man in a blue robe was only seventeen or eighteen. His brows were sharp as ink, his eyes like stars; he was handsome and elegant. When the wind blew, the ends of his jet-black hair fluttered freely, giving him an air of unruly confidence.

“Young Master Qin.”

Yu Ping flicked his whisk and bowed slightly to Qin Zening, conveying Empress Wei’s message to him.

Qin Zening pressed his thin lips together and fell silent.

He also understood that this was not the right time to bring his younger sister back.

After all, the household still knew nothing about this matter. Moreover, there was an impostor there… There was some cleaning to be done!

A sharp glint flashed across Qin Zening’s eyes. He cupped his hands towards Yu Ping and said, “Please inform Her Majesty the Empress that I know what to do.”

Qin Zening served as a fourth-rank imperial guard. When the Emperor ordered him to investigate Qin Jiu’s background whilst at the Jianglin traveling palace, he did not yet understand the intentions of the imperial couple.

It was only after he arrived at Jiangyu County in Jin Province and gradually investigated further that he uncovered this cruel truth.

His sister had actually been swapped out by two malicious people!

Not only had she been replaced, but she had also been tormented, humiliated, and nearly had her entire life ruined.

Qin Zening rushed back to the capital from Jiangyu County at top speed and reported everything he had discovered to the emperor and empress. Originally, he had intended to personally bring his sister back. But his aunt, the empress was worried that it might frighten her, so she went and brought the girl back herself…

While lost in thought, Qin Zening had already ridden back to the Marquis of Zhongyi’s Manor.

After handing his horse to a stable boy, he headed straight toward Ronghe Hall, where Old Madam Qin resided.

“Elder Brother.”

On the way, Qin Zening ran into Qin Xin, who was also heading to Ronghe Hall.

Today, Qin Xin wore a crabapple-red jacket embroidered with green plum blossoms, paired with a pink pleated skirt. Her thick black hair was styled into twin buns, adorned with two pink jade hairpins. Her palm-sized face was fair as snow, and when she smiled, her eyes curved charmingly—bright and captivating.

“Elder Brother,” Qin Xin greeted him with a slight curtsy, smiling affectionately. “You’re back quite early today. I was just going to visit Grandmother. Shall we go together?”

Qin Zening stared at her blankly, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Once, he had regarded her as the precious treasure left behind by his parents and had cherished her dearly.

But now, whenever he thought about how Qin Xin had grown up in the marquis household, pampered and honored, while her biological parents had been tormenting his real sister day after day, a surge of hatred rose uncontrollably in his heart.

Qin Xin had been nearly four years old when she came to this family. Did she know the truth or not…?

Under his gaze, Qin Xin felt uneasy and asked hesitantly, “Elder Brother, what’s wrong?”

Qin Zening replied as if nothing were amiss, “Mother’s death anniversary is approaching. In a couple of days when I’m off duty, come with me to Huangjue Temple to offer incense for her.”

Qin Xin quickly agreed, “Then I’ll have someone prepare the offerings.”

Qin Zening gave a noncommittal response.

Matching Qin Xin’s pace, he walked forward beside her and said meaningfully, “When Mother was alive, she often thought of you. Even on her deathbed, she could not close her eyes in peace. She said she would remain in the mortal world, watching over you, guarding you…”

By then, dusk had fallen, and the sky was a murky gray-blue.

Under the eaves, several lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, their flames flickering between light and shadow.

A chill wind passed, and Qin Xin shivered involuntarily.

She subconsciously avoided Qin Zening’s gaze and said with a smile, “Elder Brother, I’ve already returned. Mother must surely be at peace.”

“Is that so?” Qin Zening paused deliberately, a cold smile curling at his lips as he slowed his speech, “Her own daughter was switched away… how could Mother possibly rest in peace?!”

A trace of unmistakable panic flashed through Qin Xin’s eyes, but she quickly calmed down and said coquettishly, “Elder Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?”

At that moment, her expression gave Qin Zening his answer. He hadn’t been wrong.

Qin Zening looked straight at her and said sharply, “You are not my sister!”

He was certain now: Qin Xin knew!

She knew she was an impostor! She and her biological parents were all cut from the same cloth!

A fierce, piercing light burst from Qin Zening’s dark eyes, his gaze like lightning.

Qin Xin also realized she had lost her composure. She stepped closer to Qin Zening, trying to smooth things over, “Elder Brother…”

“Don’t call me that.” Qin Zening stepped back, looking at her with disgust and repeating, “You are not my sister!”

With that, he turned and walked away without a backward glance. His stride was firm, his tall figure radiating finality.

Qin Xin stood frozen in place, clutching the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her eyes flickering.

Her personal maid Shuxiang looked bewildered and said tentatively, “Miss, what’s wrong with the Eldest Young Master? Why did he suddenly lose his temper at you?”

Qin Xin didn’t answer, her face unreadable.

Where had things gone wrong? How did Qin Zening find out?!

Her face shifted between pale and gray¹Technically it’s green rather than gray, but I thought it might be a bit difficult to understand.

In her previous life, her grandfather had found out the truth the third year after she arrived at the marquis’ household, destroying everything she had.

Later, Qin Jiu was found and brought back, becoming the true noble daughter of the marquis family.

As for her, she had been cast down into the dust. Her biological parents were sentenced to exile, and she too was driven out of the marquis’ household, forced to follow them into exile in Lingnan, suffering endless hardships…

Even the heavens had pitied her, giving her a chance to start over!

In this life, she carefully planned every step of the way to reach where she was today, so how did Qin Zening find out about this?!

How?!

Qin Xin’s eyes widened slightly as she suddenly thought of the girl she had encountered in Qingyun County.

At the time, she had felt that the girl looked a bit like Qin Jiu. Later, she had planned to subtly ask about what was written on the girl’s travel permit after the Second Prince investigated.

But the Second Prince had been scolded by the emperor and forbidden from leaving the palace, and she had no chance to see him again. Naturally, that matter had been dropped.

Could it be… that girl really was Qin Jiu?

Had she come looking for them?

A wave of panic surged in Qin Xin’s heart.

She clenched her fists and only managed to calm down slightly with difficulty, straightening her back.

She had worked so hard to obtain everything she had now, she absolutely could not let them ruin her again!

Things were different from her previous life. Now she was the officially betrothed consort of the Second Prince by imperial decree. The Qin family would not cast her aside so easily!

Qin Xin steadied herself and quickened her pace to Ronghe Hall.

“Second Miss.”

Outside the east side room of Ronghe Hall, a young maid holding up the curtain gave Qin Xin a complicated look and curtsied.

Qin Xin’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Qin Zening has already told the Old Madam?! He was far too reckless. Didn’t he know to dismiss the servants first? Where did that leave her face?!

The maid lifted the curtain for her.

Qin Xin left Shuxiang outside and stepped into the east room just in time to hear Qin Zening say coldly, “…each should return to their rightful place!”

Old Madam Qin sat on a rosewood couch, her expression dark and lips pressed tight. Qin Zening stood before her, his back to Qin Xin.

“Elder Brother…” Qin Xin called softly, her voice trembling.

Qin Zening didn’t even glance at her, saying coldly, “Not just any stray cat or dog can call me ‘Elder Brother.’”

Qin Xin’s eyes instantly reddened. She bit her tender lower lip, forcefully holding back her tears.

Ten years of familial affection. She had called him “Elder Brother” for a full ten years. Could that bond really not compare to mere blood ties?

Old Madam Qin had always doted on Qin Xin and couldn’t help but rebuke Qin Zening, “Ning’er²Tbh, I’m not very familiar with the dialect that uses “ge er” (哥兒). Usually it would be Name’er (Name + Er) for endearment, but it seems that this dialect specifies the role within the family. In this case, it’s Ning Brother Er. I’m simplifying it to Ning’er but the rest of the family is called in similar ways. Alternatively, ge’er is used to refer to rich young noblemen., don’t speak to your sister like that!”

“Grandmother, she is not my sister.” Qin Zening turned slightly and pointed at Qin Xin, his expression cold and filled with disgust. “It was her shameless, despicable parents who swapped out my real sister. They even abused her, beating her at will.

“Even a dog I raised wouldn’t bite me back this way!” Every word uttered grew colder than the last.

“Ning’er!” Old Madam Qin frowned further, unable to bring herself to believe this was true.

However, such a serious matter wasn’t something Qin Zening would fabricate.

Her mind in turmoil, Old Madam Qin recalled when Qin Xin had first been brought into the household. She was only four then. Small, obedient, and clever, like a little pink dumpling.

Her eldest son and daughter-in-law had passed away early, so she had raised Qin Xin by her side. Even her name had been personally chosen by her.

She had personally watched the child grow up, sweetly calling her “Grandmother,” bringing her joy.

This granddaughter was her little ray of sunshine, her little comfort³Also technically “her little happy fruit, her little cotton coat.—how could she possibly let her go just like that?

Even if the Li couple had done wrong, Qin Xin herself was innocent!

How could their crimes be placed upon her?

“Grandmother…” Qin Xin looked at the Dowager Lady with gratitude, her eyes even redder.

She knew her filial piety had not been in vain. These ten years, she had been by her grandmother’s side, caring for her. What had Qin Jiu ever done?! By what rights should she return and take everything from her?!

Qin Zening raised an eyebrow and said, “Grandmother, when my parents were alive, they constantly worried about my poor sister. She has suffered for over a decade, while this impostor lived in luxury in the marquis’ household. Aren’t you afraid my parents cannot rest in peace?”

Back then, the Qin family had been exiled to Min Province.

Pirates ran rampant along its coasts, and local garrisons often forcibly conscripted exiles like them to suppress the pirates. Qin Jue was the eldest son, while Qin Zhun was frequently ill due to the harsh conditions, so Qin Jue went in his place every time until he died during one such campaign.

At that time, Madam Wei was pregnant. The shock caused her to go into premature labor. She suffered a difficult childbirth, and after giving birth to Qin Zeyu, she died from excessive bleeding.

In just a few short days, Qin Zening became an orphan.

Old Madam Qin tightened her grip on the string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.

Back then, while in Min Province, her eldest son and daughter-in-law had constantly thought of their second daughter. If their spirits in heaven knew that she had been lost and suffered all these years, how heartbroken would they be?

The second granddaughter must be brought back, but Qin Xin…

“Grandmother…” Qin Xin clutched her handkerchief, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, looking pitiful and endearing.

Old Madam Qin felt even more distressed. She thought to herself: ‘The Li couple were indeed of low character, but Qin Xin had grown up in luxury, never having done a day’s hard work⁴10 fingers had never been moistened by the spring water – never did any hard work. I might be off in this explanation but it’s because people used to wash their clothes by hand in the river/spring water, and that makes people’s hands rough and worn out. Hence hands that had never dipped in spring water.. How could she endure such hardship?’

The Marquis’ household was wealthy, it wasn’t like they couldn’t afford to raise one more girl…

This Ning’er was simply too stubborn!